DIARY ENTRY #3: August 23rd, 1793

Dear diary, I decided that I was going to quit farming. Shocking, right? Well apparently, there's a new system that Napoleon set up for France. I am planning on attending a lyceé, a public school run by the government. It's open for males of all backgrounds, which includes me too. I'm so glad that they made this system, because this can help me get a better job in the future, and I wouldn't have to work so hard just to get food for me and my parents. While I was packing up, Madeleine de Loré, a maid, came to buy some food from me. I was going to go up and get something for her, but I realized that my farm would have to close sooner or later, and I was kind of in a hurry. I told her that the business was closed, and that I was going to a lyceé to receive a better education. It's too bad that she can't attend; it's not for women. I'm really excited for this lyceé, because if I work hard, I would be able to get a job in the public office. Just think about it! Comparing the hard, long hours of farming to the job in the public office, I would definitely choose the job in the public office. I think, for now, that the revolution has brought on some good stuff in the end. Napoleon isn't a over ruling, money spending person like Louis (or is he? It would be revealed soon enough). At least I'm receiving an education now. Napoleon isn't that bad, I personally think. He hasn't brought any changes to the changes we've made in the revolution, and he seems determined to bring good to France, and that's what we all want, a common goal of the French people. I guess things are turning for the better now. Let's see what the future will bring us.

DIARY ENTRY #2: July 28th, 1794

Hello, dear diary. Did you hear about what was going to happen to Robespierre? After his long time of killing anyone for the most irrelevant reasons, he was finally going to get his head chopped off. I wanted to go and watch the execution of Robespierre, but first I had to get my farming all done. It was hard to finish my farming on time of the execution of Robespierre because my farming is usually done in a day. I had to work very hard to finish it on time. As I set out to go to the execution, I saw a lot of people crowded around the execution, murmuring with excitement. Though I wasn’t the first one to know about things going on not related to farming, Robespierre was pretty well known among us. I knew that he was very paranoid; that was probably why he killed people that he didn't trust was going to support him. I wasn’t strongly affected directly by his paranoid nature, as my parents and I lived quietly, farming. Still, he killed one of my neighbors, the neighbor that took my tools five years ago, and I wanted to see what he was like at his execution. Though after the tool taking incident, I didn't really like the neighbor very much, but he was still my neighbor. Apparently he was a very headstrong man and Robespierre decided that he was too dangerous to keep around. Anyway, I saw a man walking in the same direction as me. It seemed like he was going to go to the execution also. His name was Simeon Thayer, and we quickly became close friends. Though he was five years younger than me, I could see that he was a man with thought. We struck up a conversation about the bread price, and I found it easier to relate to him than others because he was a farmer as well. The execution was quick but bloody. I’m not a queasy kind of person, but I think Simeon was. He couldn’t watch the execution with open eyes, though everyone else cheered loudly at Robespierre’s death. I think it was a memorable experience; I’m glad I didn’t miss it.

DIARY ENTRY #1: September 1st, 1789

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday to Henri, happy birthday to me! Dear diary, it's my birthday today. Birthday are supposed to be a happy, joyful day. However, I was nervous all day because I was expecting something horrible to happen to me any day. There is a rumor going on that nobles were hiring outlaws to terrorize the peasants. All the peasants are scared to death, and so am I. I remember that time I didn't pay the taxes, but I had a legitimate reason for that! I didn't have any money to pay for taxes; I barely had enough money to buy my own bread! I think the peasants are becoming senseless in their fear. I wasn't sure what was going on, but I could guess what was happening by the sounds from the outside. They were gathering up farming tools for weapons. I wasn't going to get caught up in this mess; I was sensible enough to know that staying out of this was the safest way. Then, a neighbor peasant came by my house to ask me for farming tools for them to use for weapons. Of course I said no. I needed those farming tools to farm myself! It was the only way to support myself and my family. However, the peasant was mad with fear and pushed me over, and took away my tools. My only thought was, "Oh, no!". Just as I was going to go and cry about my tools, Maximilian Rousseau came to my rescue! Maximilian is a industrial worker, and he has much more money than me. He gave me a new set of farming tools as a birthday present and told me that he heard what was going on with me and that peasant. I was really touched by his deep thought. He was the one and only person that wished me happy birthday today. Maxie and I promised to be best friends from now on. As long as I provide him with a bit of crops every time he provides me with some tools, we'll maintain a good trade. I wonder what else he can give me other than tools? Maybe some seeds? Some more wheat for bread would be lovely. Well, I'm tired after a long day of farming and arguing and a happy birthday wish. Good night, diary!

Character Creation


Name: Henri Cartier
Age: 23
Gender: male
Occupation: peasant (farming)
Social Class: Third Estate
Financial situation: very poor, has the minimum amount of money to survive. he owns some land.
Appearance: brown eyes, brown hair, short height, less than average weight.
Location (Map of France, Map of Paris Must be in the Paris region.
Habitual locations: (where are you found most of the time?): In a town called F' de Chatillen.
Daily routine: (typical day for you): Wakes up - farms - eats lunch - farms - sleeps
Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: a neutral person, doesn't really take sides to a fight, usually gives the other person what they want
Past/individual-family history: father was also a farmer and he managed to earn enough money to buy some land.
Family: (spouse? siblings?...): mother and father, living nearby
Social relations with your own and other classes (people you deal with or know about in the class, AND your opinions and feelings about them): knows just a few people that has to do with farming, he barely knows about anything that's going on except farming
Religion: no religion
Education: received no education, but knows how to read, not a very good writer
Languages you speak: French
Main privileges and/or hardships: he just has to keep on farming and farming
Portrait: (find one online and paste it in): Christopher.Blackwell.JPG